Particle Swarm Optimization applied to planar arrays synthesis using subarrays

In this work, classical Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based schemes have been appropriately modified by introducing a selection operator commonly used in Genetic Algorithms (GA), the tournament selection strategy, and the hybrid approaches proposed have been successfully applied to planar arrays complex synthesis, considering two different situations for the antennas: planar arrays divided or not into subarrays. Results of a preliminary study carried out to analyze the usefulness and limitations of the algorithm are included, considering as a theoretical canonical problem the synthesis of the complex weights of a square planar array consisting of microstrip patches so as to meet the far-field radiation requirements imposed by 3D-masks. Furthermore, representative synthesis results for a planar array to be considered as a 120 degrees sectored antenna for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) applications are also included.